Roy Lee Shown, Sr. had a life filled with tragedy, hardship and hard work. Born into a history of tragedy [being the first son of Roy Green and Elizabeth Mae Shown to survive out of a previous five children who were born and died within a few days] he soon became the apple of his Daddy and Mama's life. This high regard was no doubt due to the loss of his other siblings. He remained the only child for 3 years and 3 months when Barbara Louise Shown Perry was born in Jan. 1932. Daddy and Barbara were joined with a new sibling, Mary Regina Shown who was born three years later in 1935. Tragedy would strike again in 1941 when "Regina" died of Diptheria and Typhoid fever at the age of 6. Roy spoke often of the day his little sister died. He said that she was buried on his birthday when he was 13 years old. He spoke of what a beautiful and sweet little girl she was and how he and Barbara enjoyed playing together.
In 1949 Roy Lee met Sally Jane Toler at the Sanitary Cafe in Reidsville. The cafe was owned and operated by Sally Jane's mother Nettie Toler. "Jane" used to say when Roy would come to the restaurant to talk to her that she was not interested in the least...she said, "He looked like an old man...wearing his bib overalls and all dusty looking." Then one day Roy walked into the restaurant wearing a suit and began to talk to Jane and she wondered why this good looking man was talking to her. Turns out Roy definitely came to 'court' Jane. Jane was impressed and they began to date exclusively. They were married on Friday, October 13, 1950. Jane said the day they married that she was working at the Belvedere Hotel in the restaurant and Roy was working. They only took the time to get married and they both went back to work. No honeymoon or celebration...just back to work. (More to come later)
In 1949 Roy Lee met Sally Jane Toler at the Sanitary Cafe in Reidsville. The cafe was owned and operated by Sally Jane's mother Nettie Toler. "Jane" used to say when Roy would come to the restaurant to talk to her that she was not interested in the least...she said, "He looked like an old man...wearing his bib overalls and all dusty looking." Then one day Roy walked into the restaurant wearing a suit and began to talk to Jane and she wondered why this good looking man was talking to her. Turns out Roy definitely came to 'court' Jane. Jane was impressed and they began to date exclusively. They were married on Friday, October 13, 1950. Jane said the day they married that she was working at the Belvedere Hotel in the restaurant and Roy was working. They only took the time to get married and they both went back to work. No honeymoon or celebration...just back to work. (More to come later)
Roy Lee Shown, Sr. had a life filled with tragedy, hardship and hard work. Born into a history of tragedy [being the first son of Roy Green and Elizabeth Mae Shown to survive out of a previous five children who were born and died within a few days] he soon became the apple of his Daddy and Mama's life. This high regard was no doubt due to the loss of his other siblings. He remained the only child for 3 years and 3 months when Barbara Louise Shown Perry was born in Jan. 1932. Daddy and Barbara were joined with a new sibling, Mary Regina Shown who was born three years later in 1935. Tragedy would strike again in 1941 when "Regina" died of Diptheria and Typhoid fever at the age of 6. Roy spoke often of the day his little sister died. He said that she was buried on his birthday when he was 13 years old. He spoke of what a beautiful and sweet little girl she was and how he and Barbara enjoyed playing together.
In 1949 Roy Lee met Sally Jane Toler at the Sanitary Cafe in Reidsville. The cafe was owned and operated by Sally Jane's mother Nettie Toler. "Jane" used to say when Roy would come to the restaurant to talk to her that she was not interested in the least...she said, "He looked like an old man...wearing his bib overalls and all dusty looking." Then one day Roy walked into the restaurant wearing a suit and began to talk to Jane and she wondered why this good looking man was talking to her. Turns out Roy definitely came to 'court' Jane. Jane was impressed and they began to date exclusively. They were married on Friday, October 13, 1950. Jane said the day they married that she was working at the Belvedere Hotel in the restaurant and Roy was working. They only took the time to get married and they both went back to work. No honeymoon or celebration...just back to work. (More to come later)
In 1949 Roy Lee met Sally Jane Toler at the Sanitary Cafe in Reidsville. The cafe was owned and operated by Sally Jane's mother Nettie Toler. "Jane" used to say when Roy would come to the restaurant to talk to her that she was not interested in the least...she said, "He looked like an old man...wearing his bib overalls and all dusty looking." Then one day Roy walked into the restaurant wearing a suit and began to talk to Jane and she wondered why this good looking man was talking to her. Turns out Roy definitely came to 'court' Jane. Jane was impressed and they began to date exclusively. They were married on Friday, October 13, 1950. Jane said the day they married that she was working at the Belvedere Hotel in the restaurant and Roy was working. They only took the time to get married and they both went back to work. No honeymoon or celebration...just back to work. (More to come later)
